No Dance Bars In Goa Says CM Manohar Parrikar

The Maharashtra Government had banned dance bars in 2005, stating that they corrupt young people and is responsible for crime and prostitution.

The Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar has said that he would not permit any dance bars to function in the state.

He said his government had already assured the citizens that a menace such as bars with dancing girls would never be encouraged.

"Of course, I have heard such a rumour but I will not allow any dance bars in Goa," he said during the Independence Day celebrations here today.

Further he said the evil of drugs and prostitution would be rooted out from the state. The Maharashtra Government had banned dance bars in 2005, stating that they corrupt young people and is responsible for crime and prostitution.

But the Bombay High Court quashed the government’s decision in April 2006, after which the state government appealed in the Supreme Court, which ordered the bars to remain closed until its verdict.

The Supreme Court on July 16 gave its verdict to reopen dance bars in Maharashtra and upheld the right of bar dancers to pursue their profession, provided dance bars have a license from the state authorities. Goa also comes under jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court.